Here are the items that we found.
Roméo et Juliette
What this recording offers in extraordinary performances, it offsets with an inordinate amount of audience noise. If you can overlook that, you're in for a spectacular experience. Franco Corelli is astounding as Roméo, bringing his powerful, stentorian tenor to a role typically assigned to lighter voices. The result is a more Italianate approach, but no less impressive given the role's considerable technical demands. Unfortunately, the draconian cuts in this performance diminish much of Juliette's music—a real loss, as Anna Moffo is sublime in the role, her voice both radiant and technically brilliant, making her an ideal match for Corelli. In the end, while the "audience participation" may be distracting, it also serves as a testament to the fervor these two artists inspired, evoking a rock concert more than a night at the opera.
Track List
Prologue
1. Vérone vit jadis deux familles rivales
Act I
2. L'heure s'envole joyeuse et folle
3. Eh! bien? cher Pâris! que vous semble de la fête des Capulets?
4. Écoutez! écoutez! C'est le son des instruments joyeux
5. Enfin la place est libre, amis!
6. Mab, la reine des mensonges
7. Voyons, nourrice, on m'attend, parle vite!
8. Ah! je veux vivre
9. Le nom de cette belle enfant?
10. Quelqu'un!... C'est mon cousin Tybalt!
3. Eh! bien? cher Pâris! que vous semble de la fête des Capulets?
4. Écoutez! écoutez! C'est le son des instruments joyeux
5. Enfin la place est libre, amis!
6. Mab, la reine des mensonges
7. Voyons, nourrice, on m'attend, parle vite!
8. Ah! je veux vivre
9. Le nom de cette belle enfant?
10. Quelqu'un!... C'est mon cousin Tybalt!
Act II
11. O nuit! sous tes ailes obscures
12. L'amour! L'amour!... Ah! lève-toi, soleil!
13. Hélas! moi, le haïr! haine aveugle et barbare!
14. Écoute! on vient! silence! éloigne-toi!
15. Ô nuit divine! je t'implore
16. Adieu mille fois!
12. L'amour! L'amour!... Ah! lève-toi, soleil!
13. Hélas! moi, le haïr! haine aveugle et barbare!
14. Écoute! on vient! silence! éloigne-toi!
15. Ô nuit divine! je t'implore
16. Adieu mille fois!
Act III
17. Depuis hier je cherche en vain mon maître!
18. Que fais-tu, blanche tourterelle
19. Ah! ah! voici nos gens!
20. Ah! blessé!... Blessé!
21. Ô jour de deuil! ô jour de larmes!
22. Ah! jour de deuil et d'honneur et d'alarmes
18. Que fais-tu, blanche tourterelle
19. Ah! ah! voici nos gens!
20. Ah! blessé!... Blessé!
21. Ô jour de deuil! ô jour de larmes!
22. Ah! jour de deuil et d'honneur et d'alarmes
Act IV
23. Va! je t'ai pardonné
24. Juliette! Ah! le ciel soit loué!
25. Buvez donc ce breuvage
26. Mon père! tout m'accable! tout est perdu!
24. Juliette! Ah! le ciel soit loué!
25. Buvez donc ce breuvage
26. Mon père! tout m'accable! tout est perdu!
Act V
27. C'est là!... Salut! tombeau sombre et silencieux!
28. Où suis-je?
28. Où suis-je?
Customer Reviews
Share your experience with fellow collectors
Share Your Experience
A star rating alone is welcome, and reviews may be written in any language.
4.0
Based on 1 review
✓ Top Reviewer
United States
Thrilling Performance, Noisy Audience!
This performance may not be ideally "French", but it preserves an exciting night at the opera. Corelli had only recently taken on the role of Romeo and by this point he knew what he wanted to do with the role, where the climaxes were, etc. His Act 2 aria is stunning for its passion and fervor. He takes the final B-flat full voice and then executes an incredible diminuendo on it. The top C at the end of the duel scene is one for the record books - the crowd goes wild with shouts of "Bravo, Franco, bravo!". The duets with Moffo sizzle with erotic chemistry. Moffo is the Juliette of one's dreams. She tosses off her opening "Ecoutez!" with charm and alacrity and then floors the audience with her gorgeous waltz aria. What a pity she wasn't allowed the Potion Aria in Act 4, but that was always cut back then. Lambrinos sings an elegant Mercutio and Sgarro a solid Laurent. I wish we were told who the Stephano was; she sings with flair and style. Guadagno keeps everyone together well. There are many cuts, including the entire Act 3, scene 1 marriage scene though whether it was cut or is missing from the original tape I don't know. The audience is very vocal: one gentleman can be heard exclaiming how beautiful the scenery is in Act 2! The voices are clearly heard over the orchestra.This isn't for those just getting to know the opera, but for those who already love the piece as I do or are fans of the two leads it's essential!
Report
